Tank arrangement for aircraft



Feb. 20, 1940. w. RETHEI. ET A1. 2,191,239

TANK ARRANGEMENT FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Aug. 29,A 195s In Fig. 2. th

rectly connected with the wall of the tank, they provide a good transverse stiffening, taking up the vertical for'ces of inertia set up by the `tank contents'on alighting, and transmitting the same to the outer skin 4 of the float and to itsv longitudinal joints. v

.gtudinal straps 3 are in this case subjected to tension. Bucklivng is avoided inasmuch as, due to the concussive force set up on alighting, the holding 'straps and4V therewith the tank skin are likewise subjected to tension,"but in a much greater measure, as the whole arrangement consisting of the outer skin 4, the brackets 6, the bulkheads I, and the straps 3, as well as the tank skin act as a deformable elastic unit.

We claim: f

1. A construction for aircraft and the like comprising a hollow structural member forming an aircraft element, a plurality of bulkheads extendving transversely of said structural member, a number of said bulkheads having aligned openings therein to receive and support a tank, a. tank tank -is shown in the conditions f disposed in said openings to be supported by said bulkheads in spaced relation to the walls of said structural member, and at least one strap attached at one end directly to the tank wall and at the other end to the wall of said hollow structural member.

2. The combination claimed in claim l, in which the strap is secured to parts of the skin of the hollow structural member at which bulkheads are connected therewith.

3. The combination claimed in claim l in which the transverse bulkheads are connected with the tank by knees so as to form at the same time a transverse stiffenirig for the tank.

4. The combination claimed in claim 1, there being a plurality of said straps, said 'straps being spaced and being disposed in longitudinal direction with respect to the motion of the aircraft, the end extensions of said straps beyond the ends of the tank being formed as inclined brackets secured to the wall of said hollow member, whereby the t'ank walls are stiiened and whereby the possibility of injury to the tank vcaused by sudden acceleration or deceleration of the aircraft is materially lessened.

WALTER RETHEL. wnlMAR LAU'IE. ERNST 

